GB2246724A - A blank for a container such as a box - Google Patents

Abstract

A blank (1) for a container such as a box comprises a piece of cardboard (5, 6, 7) which has at least one surface coated with a fibrous, textured plastics film (8) in order to increase resistance to tearing and impact damage and to offer greater stability. <IMAGE>

Description

A BLANK FOR A CONTAINER SUCH AS A BOX The invention relates to a blank for a container such as a box.

The blank contains cardboard, e.g. corrugated cardboard, and may be formed into the box by using adhesives or fastening means.

Boxes formed from blanks are known and are used to accommodate and/or dispatch goods, presents or the like. The blanks consist of cardboard , e.g. corrugated cardboard. In order to form a box, the blank is first folded and stuck together to produce a tubular structure having the desired cross-sectional shape. The tubular structure is then closed at both ends by folding over flaps. In a different type of box, a basin-shaped lower part and a basin-shaped upper part are first of all fashioned using adhesives or fastening means, and then the parts are stuck together to form a box.

These kinds of boxes have a relatively low resistance to tearing and also a low resistance to impact damage. Also, the stability is not particularly great. Resistance to tearing, resistance to impact and stability could only be increased by an increase of the wall strength of the cardboard. However, this unavoidably leads to an increase in the weight of the box. These kinds of known boxes are also disadvantageous because they lose their durability and stability by the effects of water, rain drops for example, and this cannot even be compensated for by an increase in the wall thickness.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a blank for a container such as a box, the blank comprising a piece of cardboard, a surface of which is coated with a fibrous, textured plastics film.

The plastics film improves the stability of the box made from the blank. Also, the resistance to tearing and the resistance to impact damage are considerably increased. Neither are these favourable properties adversely affected by the effects of water, particularly rain drops.

The invention will now be described by way of a non-limiting embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a blank for forming a box, according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a section through the wall of the blank of Figure 1.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank 1 which is used to form a box known per se. The blank 1 consists firstly of four square or rectangular portions 2 with side edges of equal length and which later form the sides of the box. A strip 3 is attached to one of the portions 2, and this strip is later joined to one of the other portions 2, using adhesives for example, after the blank has been folded to form the box. Specially shaped flaps are provided on the top and bottom edges of the portions 2, apart from on one edge of one of the portions 2, and these flaps are later folded in to form the ends of the box.

The blank 1 consists of a piece of cardboard 4, which, in the embodiment shown, is corrugated cardboard. This means that the cardboard 4 is formed by a cover layer 5, a corrugated layer ó and another cover layer 7. In the embodiment shown, the cover layer 7 of the cardboard 4 is coated with a fibrous, textured plastics film 8 which is formed from olefin fibres which are injected onto the cover layer 7 and deformed under the effects of pressure and temperature. This plastics film 8 which is applied during an adhesion process, for example, gives the blank 2, but in particular the folded box, an increased resistance to tearing, an increased resistance to impact damage and greater stability.

This means that if the box hits a sharp object it does not tear, and the contents are therefore not emptied out of it.

If the plastics film 8 is disposed on the side which later forms the outside of the box, this is additionally advantageous in that a box of this kind is insensitive, to a great extent, to drops of water, particularly raindrops. Water could, at any rate, only penetrate into relatively small cut surfaces.

As a variation of the embodiment mentioned, when using corrugated cardboard 4 to form the blank 1, it is possible for the cover layer 7 itself to be formed by the fibrous textured plastics film 8. The cover layer 7 itself could then be dispensed with. Also, it is possible for the cover layer 5 to be formed from a fibrous, textured plastics film 8.

The fibrous textured plastics film 8 can furthermore be applied to any kind of cardboard used to form a box.

Claims (8)

1. A blank for a container such as a box, the blank comprising a piece of cardboard, a surface of which is coated with a fibrous, textured plastics film.

2. A blank according to claim 1, wherein the piece of cardboard is a piece of corrugated cardboard.

3. A blank according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plastics film is formed from olefin fibres injected onto said surface and deformed under the effects of pressure and temperature.

4. A blank according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the plastics film is secured to the piece of cardboard by means of adhesive.

5. A blank according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plastics film coats both surfaces of the piece of cardboard.

6. A blank substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A container made from a blank according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A container according to claim 7, wherein, if the plastics film coats only one surface of the piece of cardboard, the plastics film forms the outer layer of the container or, if the plastics film coats both surfaces of the piece of cardboard, the plastics film forms both the inner and outer layers of the container.